HUNTINGTON BEACH : Hike in Paramedic Fees OKd for Those Who Don’t Subscribe to Service

Residents who don’t subscribe to the city’s paramedic membership program will be paying more for the emergency service.

The City Council last week approved fee increases for non-subscribers and rates for third parties, such as insurance companies.

“The good news is we’re not going to increase rates to members,” Fire Chief Michael P. Dolder said.

In 1990, the city began charging a voluntary fee for people who might need emergency paramedic and ambulance services. The current $36 annual subscription rate also will remain the same, Dolder said. For subscribers, there is no per use charge for the city’s emergency paramedic or ambulance service.

The new third party rates increased $25 to $125 for basic life support service and by $50 to $200 for advanced life support service. Non-members will now pay $50 more, or $150, for basic life support service, and $100 more, or $250, for advanced life support service.

Dolder said 32% of the city’s households are members of the program.

The cost of the paramedic program is $3.6 million, while revenue from membership and user fees contribute more than $2 million annually to the program, he said.

The increased rates will offset the costs associated with providing emergency paramedic service, Dolder said.

Under the current rate structure, members are subsidizing the non-members, Dolder said. Fees from membership dues and member’s insurance payments fund 54% of the program; however, members receive only 25% of the program’s services.

Dolder said the city hopes that by increasing fees to non-members, it will encourage more residents to join the program.